Flash lighting device



B. 1.. MATTHEW-S. 2,264,905

Dec. 2, 1941.

FLASH LIGHTING DEVIQE Filed June 16, 1936 INVENTORSI BIRCHARD LMnmaws BYJOHN MA vm' Patented Dec. 2, 1941 FLASH LIGHTING DEVICE Birchard L.Matthews, Lakewood, and John T.

Marvin, Fairview Village, Ohio,

Patrol Valve Company,

poration of Ohio assignors to The Cleveland, Ohio, a cor- ApplicationJune 16, 1936, Serial No. 85,552

9 Claims.

The present invention relating, as indicated, to gas burning appliances,refers more particularly to improvements in flash ignition devices forthe top burners of gas stoves.

The prime object of the invention is to provide simple, eflicient meansfor operably connecting a plurality of flash tubes to a common pilothousing in such manner that th tubes may be readily assembled ordisassembled with the top burners and-the pilot housing in place uponthe gas stove.

One object hereof is to provide a novel connecting means which servesboth as a detachable connection for the pilot end of a tube and as aflash directing restriction within the tube.

Another feature of the invention is to so construct the flash tubeconnecting means that the same permits the tube to be snapped intoposition and at th same time affording a more or less rigid connectionbetween the flash tube and the pilot housing. In the preferredembodiment this improved connecting means provides for the facility ofassembling when the tube is turned slightly about its theoretical pivot,i. e., when the tube is turned out of its normal operating plane withrespect to the pilot housing, and also to lock the tube againstdisassembly when it is in normal operating position.

A still further improvement provided by this invention concerns thecorrect axial alignment of a plurailty of flash tubes with a commoncenter even though the spacing or arrangement of the burners or othermedia for connection to the outer ends of the tube be unequal orirregular. With this invention each tube of a plurality may be properlyaxially aligned with the pilot light to insure the correct direction ofthe gas passing therethrough and hence the ultimate successful ignitionof the gas burners.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sheet or pressed metalassembly of flash tube and pilot housing of simple construction withconnecting elements formed integrally with the respect ve" tubes andpilot housing, and by means of such elements effect a universalconnection at each tube end whereby to increase its flexibility m use. a

A further object is to devise an improved pilot light housingconstructed of a minimumnumber of metal parts constituting a draftdeflector for the flame of the pilot light, means for attachment of thepilot connection and means for detachably carrying a plurality of flashtubes in alignment with the pilot light.

A still further object of the invention is to providenovelconnectingmeans on the pilot housing which cooperates with a flash tube to attachthe latter to such housing and which means include a portion adapted toclosely fit th interior of the tube to prevent the rocking of such tubeand at the same time to provide a gas deflecting restriction elementlongitudinally of the tube.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, such invention,then, consists of means hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed out in the claims, the annexed drawings, and th followingdescription setting forth 1 in detail certain mechanism embodying theinvention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of thevarious forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing:

Figure l is a schematic plan view of the novel flash lighter deviceassembled with respect to a top burner arrangement of a gas stove, therebeing only one of the burners illustrated. Figure 2 is a view on anenlarged, scale taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, certain of the parts beingshown in elevation for the sake of clearness. Figure 3 is across-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Figur 4 is a sideelevational View of the present novel pilot housing per se. Figure 5 isa top plan view of the housing of Fig. 4, a portion oi thedraft-deflecting cone being broken away. Figure 6 is-a bottom plan viewof the pilot end of a flash tube. Figure 7 is adetailed cross-sectionalview taken on line 'i -'i of Fig. 2 and showing connection between theflash tube and the pilot housing. Figure 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6showing a modified form of the invention. Figure 9 is a topplan View ofa modified form of the novel pilot housing together with a plurality offlash tubes attached thereto. Figure 10 is a detailed verticalcross-sectional view taken on line lit-l8. of Fig. 9.

The invention, as stated, does not especially concern any particulartype of gas burner, nor is it limited to top burners. From the followingdescription it will appear that the present novel flash lighter assemblymay be adapted in use to many types of burners employing flash ignitiontubes.

In Figures 1 and 2 there is illustrated a top burner 2!), a gas supplymiXing tube 2! therefor, a Bunsen tube 22, a gas manifold 23 and amanual gas cook 2 1 controlling the flow of fuel to the burner 2t.Although in Fig. 1 there is only one of the top burners illustrated, itis to be understood that the invention includes the fiash lighting of.one or a plurality of burners from the common constant burning pilot asis well known in the prior art.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, theflash lighter device comprises a constant burning pilot 26 centrallylocated within the pilot housing assembly generally indicated at 21 anda plurality of flash tubes 28, each of which has one end attached to thepilot housing and its other end attached to a gas burner. The particularconstruction of the burner end of the tube may be found in anapplication of Geurink and Schulte, Serial No. 611,586, filed. May 16,1932, which, however, forms no part of the present invention and is usedonly to provide an operativ connection between the flash lighter and thegas burner. Suflice it to say that in the use of flash lighters it isrequired that a port be provided on the gas burner which directs a flowof gas inwardly of the flash tube 23, which gas travels in the customarymanner inwardly of the tube until it is ignited by the constant pilot,and thereafter the ignited gas flashes back through the tube to lightthe gas issuing from the burner main ports. In the aforesaid Geurink andSchulte typ device the outer or burner end of the flash tube 28 hasformed therewith a downwardly extending conical projection 29 which isseated in a port 30 in the burner 29 and the projection 25% has avertical passageway 3| in communication with a lateral passageway 32. Inoperation, as the gas is supplied to the burner 25, a portion of the gasflows upwardly through the passage 3i and laterally through the passage32 interiorly of the tube 28 and thus to the pilot light 26.

The pilot light 25 is provided at one end 33 of a supply pipe 3-1 whichhas its other end 35 connected by means of a regulating valve 36 to thegas manifold 23. In the end 34 of the supply pipe there is inserted aplug 31 providing therethrough a restricted gas orifice. It will beunderstood that this constantly burning pilot 26 is of customaryconstruction and function, the supply of gas to the orifice in plug 3'!being regulated by means of the valve 35 to adjust the height of theflame 26. It is also to be understood that any other type of flame oradjustment valve may be provided, as for example, the end 33 and plug3'! may be replaced by an ordinary blue flame pilot device.

As stated hereinbefore, the present invention concerns particularly thenovel construction of an improved pilot housing and means for theattachment thereto of the pilot ends of a plurality of flash tubes. Theinvention in its simplest form is found illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7 ofthe drawing and consists of a simple sheet metal pilot housing having aplurality of integrally formed projections adapted to flt into the pilotends of the flash tubes to detachably lock the latter in place.

The pilot housing 27 in its preferred embodiment comprises only twoparts, one constituting the base and tube connecting means, and two thedraft deflecting means for the flame 25. Such base member is indicatedat 40 and is constituted by a central portion l! of substantiallycircular form, which base ll has a central aperture therein adapted toreceive the end 33 of pilot supply conduit. This aperture 42 may beformed by displacing a portion of the metal of base 4! so'as to providea vertically annular flange 43, which latter is internally screwthreaded to facilitate attachment of the pilot housing to the screwthreaded end 33 of the said supply conduit. Such construction will beunderstood to be extremely simple, inexpensive in manufacture, and toaflord an eficient connection or mounting for the pilot housing upon thepilot supply conduit without requiring coupling nuts or the like.

Formed integrally with the base 4! of the pilot housing are a pluralityof laterally projecting lugs 45, in the drawing there being four innumber, although the invention is not expressly limited to anyparticular number of flash tubes and hence this number of lugs dependsupon the particular use to which the flash lighter is put. As best seenin Figs. 2 and 4, each lug 45 extends some distance beyond the edge ofbase 4! and is then bent upwardly at right angles to the base to providea vertical lug or extension 46. As will appear more clearly in thefollowing description, each of these extensions 46 cooperate with thepilot end of the flash tubes 23 to detachedly secure the latter.

In detailed construction, each lug 45 has its outer end formed intoannular disc il connected to the lower portion of the lug 46 by means ofa narrow neck 49. The discs 41 are each pierced with a hole 58. Theindividual flash tubes 28 in the illustrated form are round hollow tubesand the discs 4'! are of such diameter as to substantially fit theinterior 5! of the pilot end of the flash tube.

By reference to Fig. 6 it will be seen that each flash tube has formedtherein closely adjacent its pilot end a longitudinal slot 52 and theseslots are of sufficient length to receive the disc projections 57therein when assembling the tubes to the ilot housing, as will bepresently described. The width 53 of each slot 52 is formed toaccomodate the dimension of the neck 49 so that when the tube 28 isassembled upon one of the lugs 55 the longitudinal sides of the slot 52will closely fit such neck 53 and hold the tube in proper position. Inother words, the fit between such longitudinal sides of the slot 52 andthe reduced portion #9 on the mounting lug may be sufficiently tight toprevent any accidental shifting of the tube relative to its mounting,and furthermore, with the tube so positioned the end portion M of themounting closely conforms to the inner surface of the tube to provide abafile or gas flow restriction therein.

It will be understood that the particular crosssectional shape of theflash tubes 28 is of no moment and that the novel mode of attaching suchtubes to the housing may be employed with practically any shape tube.Likewise the gas flow restriction properties of the portion of theattachment lug within the tube may be retained by si..-.ply constructingsuch lug portion to conform with the inner configuration of such tube.

In devices of the present character it has been found essential toprovide some means to direct the flash away from the pilot light andtoward the burner. This is especially true under conditions such asillustrated in 2, when the pilot end of the tube is higher than theburner end, because of the fact that gas is lighter than air andnaturally tends to flow upwardly. Should no means he provided to impedethe flow of gas through the pilot end of the tube there is considerablelikelihood that there would be merely an explosion of the gas at suchend and the same would fail to flash back to the burner end. It

will also be seen in the drawing that each of the portions d7, of theconnecting lugs, which constitute a flash directing restriction, ispierced by the aperture 50 which permits the flow of a sufiicient amountof gas to the pilot light to produce the ignition of the gas within thetube.

It should also'be noted that by making the of this invention assembliescomprising -zontal plane about the moved toward and away slots 52longitudinally of the tube, not only do these slots facilitate insertionof the ends 47 by the attachment lugs within the tube, but when suchtubes are in operative position (Fig. 2) they permit a certain amount oflongitudinal adjustment of the tube relative to the pilot mounting. Oneform of the present novel flash tube consists of a two-piece elementhaving the pilot end formed separately and telescopically fitting thebalance of the tube. In this manner a wide range of adjustment ispossible and a single metal tube may accommodate stoves wherein there isquite a variation in the distance between the burners and the pilotlight. It should be quite apparent that telescopic adjustment betweenthe two parts of the tube structure, also the adjustment of the slottedportion of the pilot end with its mounting, permits a very substantialvariation in the length of the tube.

There are shown in the various embodiments 4 flash tubes mounted on apilot mounting. This number is, however, not limiting to the inventionas, manifestly, the improved flash lighter may be attached for use anynumber of gas light. It may also illustrated in the drawing spacedequidistantly about the outer surface of the base member 4! of the pilotmounting. This particular construction is best adapted for stove burnerassemblies wherein the pilot light is centrally located with respect tofour (4) equally spaced burners. If, however, such burners are notequally spaced the lugs 46 may be positioned at any point around thebase 4i so as to insure the correct axial alignment of the tubes withthe pilot flame.

In Fig. 8 there is illustrated a slight modification in the constructionof the pilot end of the flash tube. In this form the attachment slot 55is restricted in its length so as to accommodate only the width of theneck portion Q9 of the attachment lug. In direct communication with thisslot 55 and extending therefrom to the outer end of the tube is anarrower slot 56 which, in the assembly of the flash tube upon theattachment lug, may receive the thickness of the lug. In such assemblythe flash tube is turned at right burners and a single pilot be notedthat in one form that the lugs 46 are angles to its normal finallyadjusted position, i. e. '.;l

with the slot 55 in alignment with the width of the lug 68 and the tubeis slid longitudinally upon such lug until the neck portion A9 isreceived in the slot 55. Thereupon the flash tube is turned to align itsaxis light, and at such time the sides of slot 55 closely embrace theneck 49 and hold the parts in assembled position. It should be quiteapparent that the particular shape of slot 55 is of no consequence, andthe present invention contemplates the use of a substantially circularopening in place of the rectangular slot 55, the width of such openingbeing suflicient to accommodate the width of neck 49.

It will appear from the foregoing that this invention provides a verysimple, inexpensive and eiflcient means for the connection of flashtubes to a pilot housing. The attachment lugs described may be formedintegrally with the pilot mounting and the tubes themselves adapted forsuch connection by merely forming a slot therein adjacent the pilotends. It should be noted that with the construction provided the tubes28 may have a universal movement with respect to the pilot mounting,they may be rotated in a horiwith stoves employing one or to interceptthe pilot lugs 45, they may be from the pilot mounting in a planelongitudinally of the tubes and they may 'be rocked vertically, allwithout disturbing the connection of such tubes upon the lug 46.

The invention also contemplates the provision of a very simple andeflicient means forming a part of the pilot mounting for deflecting thedraft away from the pilot light. One of the requirements in use for adevice of this kind is to insure against the extinguishment of theconstant pilot flame 26. To accomplish this desired result there isprovided a partial conical sheet metal member 58 having its largercircumference substantially fitting the base member 4| and having itsupper edge or smaller diameter 59 arranged adjacent or slightly abovethe pilot flame 26. As will be seen best in Fig. 2 this cone-shapeddraft deflector 58 completely surrounds the flame 26 and because of itsconical outer shape directs any impinging breeze upwardly and away fromsuch flame. Means for permanently attaching the deflector 58 to the base4| of the pilot mounting may consist of one or more lugs 58 integrallyformed at the lower edge of the deflector and receivable inperipheralrecesses 6! of the base M. Figs. 4 and 5 clearly illustrate the mode ofsecuring the deflector -53 to the pilot housing wherein the lugs 60 areshown bent inwardly under the bottom surface of base 4!.

The base member M has therein a series of holes 63 which lie between theflange 53 and the inner surface at the lower end of the draft deflector58. These several holes 53 provide for the flow of secondary air aroundthe pilot flame 26.

By the construction described above, it will appear that the presentinvention provides a complete pilot housing including its own mountingmeans, means for the attachment of a plurality of flash tubes and adraft deflector, all in two (2) simple sheet metal elements.

It is also within the purview of this invention to construct the pilothousing in such manner that a plurality of tubes supported thereby maybe adjusted radially of such mounting. Under certain conditions it maybe found desirable to permit a certain amount of radial adjustment of aplurality of tubes so as to adapt the same device to many differentinstallations. In Figs. 9 and 10 there is illustrated an embodiment ofthe invention having the flash tubes 28 carried by individual lugs 56 inthe same manner as that described above in connection with the Figs. 1to 8 inclusive. In Figs. 9 and 10, however, the base member'55 of thepilot mounting has formed integrally therewith only two of the lugs is.A second base element or lug carrier is indicated at 66 which lies uponthe 1; top of base and is positioned thereon by means of a centrallylocated hole 51 which rotatably fits the outside of the flange 53 formedonbase 65. This auxiliary base member 65 has integrally-formed thereontwo attachment lugs 45, identical in construction and function withrespect to the lugs formed on base 65. In this form of the invention acone or draft deflector 58 is secured to base 55 by lugs 59 similarly tothe method described in connection with Fig. 4. This cone 68 as bestseen in Fig. 10, is formed with diametral slots 69 into which arereceived the outwardly extending portions 10 of base member 66. In thedevice just described the base member 66 is held in position upon thebase 65 by means of its engagement around flange 43 and by itsconfinement in slots 69. The under side of slots 69 may frictionallyengage with the upper surfaces of portion 10 so that while permitting arotation of the base member 66 the latter is held against accidentaldisplacement.

Fig. 9 illustrates in full and dotted lines the manner in which the basemembers 65 and 66 may be moved relatively to one another to radiallyadjust the several flash tubes 28 carried by these structures. Secondaryair holes 1-! are formed in the base 65.

In the foregoing it will be seen that this invention provides a widerange of means for the attachment of a plurality of flash tubes inproper alignment upon the pilot housing. The illustrated forms areembodied in devices having the tubes in multiples of two, although itshould be obvious that should an uneven number of tubes be required thelugs 46 upon the base 4| can be formed to accommodate this number, orthe form of the invention shown in Figs. 9 and 10 may comprise a numberof base elements corresponding to the number of tubes desired. Underthis latter condition each of the several base elements may be rotatablysupported by the pilot housing structure at .the end 33 of the supplyconduit 34.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employedinstead of the ones explained, the change being made as regards themechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of thefollowing claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

We claim:

1. In a flash lighter assembly, the combination of a tubular memberhaving an elongated longitudinal slot therein, and mounting means forsaid tubular member comprising a fixed element having an end portionpositioned transversely of said tube and substantially conforming to thetransverse dimension of inner surface of said tube, and a reducedportion on said end portion fitting the transverse Width of said slot.

2. In a flash lighter assembly, the combination of a hollow flash tubehaving a radial opening adjacent one end, and a mounting elementtherefor adapted to be positioned transversely of said tube and havingan end portion conforming to the inner transverse shape of said tubewhen so positioned, the thickness of said element being such as to passthrough said opening in one position of said tube relative to saidmounting element.

3. In a flash lighter assembly, the combination of a hollow flash tubehaving a longitudinal slot adjacent one end, a mounting element thereforadapted to be positioned transversely of said tube and of a thickness tofreely enter said slot when arranged longitudinally with said tube, andan enlarged portion on the end of said element substantially conformingto the inner crosssectional configuration of said tube when in saidtransverse mounting position.

4. In combination, a pilot housing adapted to support a substantiallyvertical pilot flame, a substantially horizontal flash tube having itsaxis arranged to intersect said flame, and cooperating means including atongue and slot on said housing and said tube to detachably mount saidtube on said housing, said tongue insertible in said slot when the tubeis in an inoperative position and cooperating with said slot to lock thetube and housing together when the tube is in its operative position andpermitting the ready detachment thereof when said tube is turnedhorizontally and at a substantial angle from its operating position.

5. In combination, a flash tube having formed in its end a longitudinalslot and a radial opening spaced inwardly of the tube end and of greatertransverse width than said slot, said slot and opening being incommunication, and a mounting element comprising a terminal portionfitting within said tube, and a reduced portion fitting the transverseWidth of said opening, said element being of such thickness as to beinsertable into said tube through said longitudinal slot.

6. A pilot housing comprising a sheet metal base member having anapertured centrally located horizontal flange constituting the attachingmeans for the housing, a plurality of horizontally integral radial lugs,vertical mounting means integrally formed on said lugs, and a sheetmetal truncated conical member carried by said base between said lugsand vertical means and surrounding said flange.

'7. In a flash lighting device, a plurality of flash tubes, a pilothousing comprising a sheet metal base member having a central aperturetherein, an integral flange surrounding said aperture, a pilotconnection mounted in said aperture, and a plurality of integral radiallugs, terminal portions on said lugs bent substantially perpendicular tosaid base, each terminal portion having integrally formed means for theattachment thereto of a flash tube, and each terminal portion being ofsuch dimension to fit the transverse inner configuration of the flashtube.

8. In a flash lighting device, a pilot housing comprising a base member,a flash-tube supporting lug thereon, a second base member r0- tatablymounted on said first member, a flashtube supporting lug on said secondmember, and

a draft deflector mounted on said first base member and confining saidsecond base member to prevent separation of said members, said mountingbetween the first base member and draft deflector permitting saidrotatable movement between said first and second base members.

9. In a flash lighting device, a plurality of flash tubes, a pilothousing, a pilot light connection, a plurality of flash-tube supports onsaid housing, said tubes having longitudinally extending end slotsengageable over said supports, terminal portions on said supportsconforming to the inner cross-sectional configuration of said tubes toprovide a flow restriction through said tubes, and said terminalportions having an ignition aperture therein, said tubes being readilydisengageable with said supports when in one position and when inanother position adapted to place said terminal portions transversely ofsaid slots whereby to prevent separation of said tubes from saidsupports.

BIRCHARD L. MATTHEWS. JOHN T. MARVIN.

